Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: Reichenbach Monastery

Heselbach - St. Peter

01 Apr 2012 157
Not much is known about St. Peter, just 2kms north of the Reichenbach Monastery ("Kloster Reichenbach"). Heselbach was a property of the priory and the small church, with this elaborate poartal, was probably built by the monks end of the 12th century. In the center of the lintel, between the symbols of the four evangelists, the Lamb of God ("Agnus Dei"). The tympan depicts God, crowned and holding a cross as a scept in his left hand, while his right is in a blessing gesture. Below this hand is a person rising from the ground. Probably the Last Judgement.

Heselbach - St. Peter

01 Apr 2012 147
Not much is known about this place, just 2kms north of the Reichenbach Monastery ("Kloster Reichenbach"). Since 1289 Heselbach was a property of the priory and the small church (11,45 m long) was probably built by the monks. According to Reinhard Wischermann ("Romanik in Baden Wuerttemberg") the church may be dedicated to St. Peter. The structure may seem humble, but it does have a very elaborate portal, taking in account the size and the remoteness of the settlement.

Klosterreichenbach - Monastery

01 Apr 2012 143
The Reichenbach Monastery ("Kloster Reichenbach") was founded in 1082 as the first priory of Hirsau Abbey. Abbot Wilhelm of Hirsau sent eight monks from Hirsau, to settle the place. The building of the church must have started immediately as already three years later the church, dedicated to Gregory the Great, got consecrated. It is hard to imagine, that the church seen today, was built within only three years, but it may well be, that the Bishop of Konstanz consecrated, while the work was still in progress. The priory existed upto the Reformation, when the whole area turned Protestant. Today the church is the parochial Lutheran church of Klosterreichenbach. There are a couple of carved graffiti in and outside the church. Here is a weathered portrait of an egghead.

Klosterreichenbach - Monastery

01 Apr 2012 138
The Reichenbach Monastery ("Kloster Reichenbach") was founded in 1082 as the first priory of Hirsau Abbey. Abbot Wilhelm of Hirsau sent eight monks from Hirsau, to settle the place. The building of the church must have started immediately as already three years later the church, dedicated to Gregory the Great, got consecrated. It is hard to imagine, that the church seen today, was built within only three years, but it may well be, that the Bishop of Konstanz consecrated, while the work was still in progress. The priory existed upto the Reformation, when the whole area turned Protestant. Today the church is the parochial Lutheran church of Klosterreichenbach. Of course the priory had a cloister. Here is the last remaining part of the cloister, now used as a storage room.

Klosterreichenbach - Monastery

01 Apr 2012 128
The Reichenbach Monastery ("Kloster Reichenbach") was founded in 1082 as the first priory of Hirsau Abbey. Abbot Wilhelm of Hirsau sent eight monks from Hirsau, to settle the place. The building of the church must have started immediately as already three years later the church, dedicated to Gregory the Great, got consecrated. It is hard to imagine, that the church seen today, was built within only three years, but it may well be, that the Bishop of Konstanz consecrated, while the work was still in progress. The priory existed upto the Reformation, when the whole area turned Protestant. Today the church is the parochial Lutheran church of Klosterreichenbach. The choir may be similar to that one of St. Aureius in Hirsau, where it is lost.

Klosterreichenbach - Monastery

31 Mar 2012 118
The Reichenbach Monastery ("Kloster Reichenbach") was founded in 1082 as the first priory of Hirsau Abbey. Abbot Wilhelm of Hirsau sent eight monks from Hirsau, to settle the place. The building of the church must have started immediately as already three years later the church, dedicated to Gregory the Great, got consecrated. It is hard to imagine, that the church seen today, was built within only three years, but it may well be, that the Bishop of Konstanz consecrated, while the work was still in progress. The priory existed upto the Reformation, when the whole area turned Protestant. Today the church is the parochial Lutheran church of Klosterreichenbach. The sober nave (seen from the organ loft) has often been compared with St. Aureius in Hirsau, as Monks from Hirsau built this. It was completed in 1178, nearly a hundred years after the consecration of the church.

Klosterreichenbach - Monastery

31 Mar 2012 163
The Reichenbach Monastery ("Kloster Reichenbach") was founded in 1082 as the first priory of Hirsau Abbey. Abbot Wilhelm of Hirsau sent eight monks from Hirsau, to settle the place. The building of the church must have started immediately as already three years later the church, dedicated to Gregory the Great, got consecrated. It is hard to imagine, that the church seen today, was built within only three years, but it may well be, that the Bishop of Konstanz consecrated, while the work was still in progress. The priory existed upto the Reformation, when the whole area turned Protestant. Today the church is the parochial Lutheran church of Klosterreichenbach. The small narthex was completed around 1200 and is probably influenced by the (more elegant) architecture seen in Maulbronn.

Klosterreichenbach - Monastery

31 Mar 2012 128
The Reichenbach Monastery ("Kloster Reichenbach") was founded in 1082 as the first priory of Hirsau Abbey. Abbot Wilhelm of Hirsau sent eight monks from Hirsau, to settle the place. The building of the church must have started immediately as already three years later the church, dedicated to Gregory the Great, got consecrated. It is hard to imagine, that the church seen today, was built within only three years, but it may well be, that the Bishop of Konstanz consecrated, while the work was still in progress. The priory existed upto the Reformation, when the whole area turned Protestant. Today the church is the parochial Lutheran church of Klosterreichenbach. The structure went through two large rebuildings/renovations. According to Heinfried Wischermann ("Romanik in Baden Wuerttemberg") the eastern apses were rebuilt during the first in 1894/95. The blue clock face - and the surrounding ornaments are from that time probably as well.

Klosterreichenbach - Monastery

31 Mar 2012 147
The Reichenbach Monastery ("Kloster Reichenbach") was founded in 1082 as the first priory of Hirsau Abbey. Abbot Wilhelm of Hirsau sent eight monks from Hirsau, to settle the place. The building of the church must have started immediately as already three years later the church, dedicated to Gregory the Great, got consecrated. It is hard to imagine, that the church seen today, was built within only three years, but it may well be, that the Bishop of Konstanz consecrated, while the work was still in progress. The priory existed upto the Reformation, when the whole area turned Protestant. Today the church is the parochial Lutheran church of Klosterreichenbach. The structure went through two large rebuildings/renovations. According to Heinfried Wischermann ("Romanik in Baden Wuerttemberg") the eastern apses were rebuilt during the first in 1894/95. The blue clock face - and the surrounding ornaments are from that time probably as well.